Nashville 2.0The burgeoning Americana music scene is the focus of Nashville 2.0, a new hour-long music documentary that airs on PBS television stations across the U.S. on Nov. 22. The special, which may be viewed as a primer of the genre, features performances by a number of well-known roots music artists and emerging artists who are transcending traditional boundaries and putting their own contemporary stamp on long-established genres like country, folk, bluegrass, blues, roots rock, R&B, rockabilly, folk-rock and honky-tonk that have inspired what is broadly known as Americana today. These are interspersed with filmed interviews with some of these artists as well as select music journalists and historians.

Part of PBS’ Fall Arts Festival, Nashville 2.0: The Rise of Americana kicks off public television’s Americana Music Weekend that also includes ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2013 that airs Nov. 23 and features performance highlights from Americana Music Association’s annual Honors & Awards show that took place Sept. 18 at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, as captured by Austin City Limits.

nashville- 2.0 284x160Artists featured on Nashville 2.0 include Alabama Shakes, The Avett Brothers, Billy Bragg, Laura Cantrell, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rosanne Cash, The Civil Wars, Elizabeth Cook, Rodney Crowell, Dawes, Jerry Douglas, John Fullbright, Shakey Graves, Emmylou Harris, The James Hunter Six, Jason Isbell, Jim Lauderdale, The Lone Below, The Mavericks, The Milk Carton Kids, Buddy Miller, Mumford and Sons, Amanda Shires, Shovels and Rope (the AMA’s Emerging Artist and Song of the Year winners this year), Richard Thompson, and Dwight Yoakam.

Nashville 2.0 was co-directed by Carol Stein and Susan Wittenberg, who also were responsible for 2011’s Women Who Rock. Terry Stewart, former CEO and president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, is the executive producer. Award-winning actress Anna Deveare Smith hosts the special. Check your local TV listings for air dates and times in your area.